Diaper rinsing device



June 14, 1960 HELLWIG 2,940,289

DIAPER RINSING DEVICE Filed June 6, 1957 2 SheetsSheet 1 Dana/d J Hal/wig INVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1957 Fig. 4

.mi Mm I 9 wfi J M MM 0 m Z m 0 Y F B n 7 .3 n" l, n .1 :5 :1: k u a 9 w o v 1 I \1 imvl United States Patent DIAPER nmsnvo DEVICE Donald 'J. Hellwig, 101 Moi-chart St., Pacoima, Calif.

Filed June '6, 1951, Ser. No. 663,977

2 Claims. (c1. 68-214) My invention relates to improvements in diaper devices for use in a toilet bowl to rinse a diaper by flushing water through the bowl.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device for the above purpose which will eliminate handling of dirty diapers and rinsing of the same by hand and which is adapted for ready use in any toilet bowl. Another object is to provide in such a device a plunger for agitating the water and diaper in a toilet bowl while rinsing the diaper which is also adapted for use to pick up' dirty or soiled diapers and place them in a toilet bowl.

Yet another object is to provide a device for the above purposes which is practical, durable, easy to operate and clean, and inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective, partly broken away and shown in section, of the plunger of the, diaper rinsing device;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the container;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section, partly in side elevation, and partly broken away, and illustrating the de vice with the container seated on the bottom of a toilet bowl.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the container 1 of my improved diaper rinsing device is preferably generally cylindrical and formed of plastic and provided adjacent its lower end with a substantially resilient, circumferential flange 5 adapted to seat on the bottom of a toilet bowl 7 in surrounding relation to the bowl discharge outlet 9 whereby to support the container seated in upright position on the bottom the bowl 7 and to form a seal around the outlet 9 when the flange 5 is pressed against said bottom and thus prevent water in the bowl from escaping out of the discharge outlet 9. The lower end 3 of the container 1 is tapered downwardly, preferably, for easy insertion through the outlet 9 into the water seal 11 of the bowl 7. The container 1 is of a height to project, when seated, slightly above the rim 13 of the bowl 7 for easy access to the container, which is open at its top, for placing a soiled diaper into the container.

Series of openings 15, preferably two series, are provided in the container in circumferentially spaced relation therein and which are spaced above the flange 5 and below the maximum level 17 at which water rises in the bowl 7 when flushed, whereby to provide means for admitting water from the bowl 7 into the container 1 above a dirtydiaper pressedinto the bottom of the container by means presently described.

Aslotted grid bottom 19 is provided in the'container, and a series of openings 21 are provided in the lower end 3 of the container 1 below the flange 5 whereby to provide means for discharge of water and matter out of the container 1 below the discharge f outlet 9 and to supplement in that respect the grid bot-v tom'19. v

A handle rod 23 extends upwardly from the container 1 and terminates at its upper end in a handle 25 for manipulating the container 1. The handle rod 23 terminatesat its lower end in a split ring 27 seating .in a circumferential-groove 29 in the container 1 and whereby circular presser plate 37 from which the shank 33 rises axially of the plate 37, said plate having circumferential and transverse slots 39, 41 therein with the flared end 35 opening through the plate by way of one of said slots. The presser plate 37 forms a grid vertically movable in the container 1 and adapted to pass water therethrough and the flared end 35 forms an upwardly tapering socket 43 for a purpose presently seen.

Upwardly tapering leaf spring tongs 45 depends out of the socket 43 innormally open position to be cammed into closing position by said socket in response to retraction of the tongs longitudinally of the shank 33, that is, upwardly. For this purpose, the tongs 45 is provided with an upwardly tapering end 47 movable into the socket 43.

Operating means for moving the tongs 45 into retracted position comprises a bifurcated hand grip 49 straddling and pivoted to the handle 34 by a pin 51 for pivotal movement by a hand grasping the handle 34. A pull rod 53 is secured at one end to the tapering end 47 of the tongs 45, said rod for this purpose extending through an aperture 55 in said end 47 with a head 57 thereon. Pull rod 53 extends longitudinally through the shank 33 and out of the same through an opening 59 in said shank at the handle 34, and then through an opening 61 in the hand grip 49 in which it is secured by an enlargement 63 to retain the rod in the hand grid for movement longitudinally of the shank 33.

A helical tension spring 65 in the shank 33 surrounds the pull rod 53 and bears against the tapered end 47 of the tongs 45 and against a cross pin 67 in the shank 33 whereby the tongs 45 are normally advanced outwardly of the socket 43 and open below the presser plate 37.

ln using the described invention, the container 1 is seated on the bottom of the toilet bowl 7 by means of the handle rod '23. A dirty or soiled diaper is then picked up with the tongs 45 by retracting the tongs 45 into the socket 43 through operation of the hand grip 49 in a manner which will now be clear. The dirty or soiled diaper is then placed by means of the plunger 31 in the bottom of the container 1 below the openings 15. The container I1 is then pressed downwardly by the handle rod 23 to firmly seat the flange 5 against the bottom of the bowl 7. The diaper is then pressed by the presser plate 37 to confine the same between said plate and the grid bottom 19. The toilet is then flushed and as the water rises in the bowl 7 it enters the inlet openings 15. During this operation, the plunger 31 is moved up and down to agitate the diaper and the water in the container 1 so that the matter in the diaper will be separated therefrom to discharge through the grid bottom 19 and discharge openings 21. By holding the container 1 down to Patented June 14, 1960;

in the container 1' at itslower, end for supporting diapers during pressingi tightly seal the mega against the bottom or the bowl l,

openings 15 each time the toilet is flushed so that the diaper may be rinsed clean. When the diaper-has been;

rinsed,;the container 1' is raised and seated'at one edge on-the 13 of the bowl 7 to overhang the interior of 1 the bowl-7 and the plunger 31tis then used to press the presser plate 37 against bottom '19, andfthereby wri ng' Washing machine if desired. r

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples:- of theninvention. since: numerous modifiationscand changes will readily occur to those scribed, and accordingly'all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is'c laimed as new is as follows:

excess water out of the diaper so that it may be placed in :a tthoroughly rinsed conditionby thethongs 45 in a 1-.i A devicefor handling soileddiapers (and rinsing the a same in water comprising a slotted flat grid' plate for manipulation inwater to agitate the water having oneslot central t-hereofia tubular shank for manipulating:

said plate having a flared lower end fixed to said platewithin saidocentral slot for opening downwardly below said plate, resilient one-piece tongs depending outof a said ll'ared end below said plate normally open to receive diapers therein;- said tongs' having an upwardly tapered upper endin said flared end coacting with said flared end to cam the tongs closed to grip a diaper in response to movement of said tapered upper end inwardly of said flared end, a pivoted handle on the other end of said shank, and a pull rod extending into the shank and operatively connecting the handle to said tapered upper end of said tongs to pull saidt-aperedtl pp r end into said flared end. a

2. A device-according t o claim l, and means resiliently urging said tapered upper end outwardlyof said flared end including acoil spring on saidshan'k abov'esaid flared end bearing against, .Said tapered upper end.

References Cited in the file or" this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

